To promote entrepreneurship among members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Access Bank Plc has doled out N15.5 million to 55 participants of Batch A, Stream Two of the programme across Nigeria.
A total of N15.5 million was given out to corps members with winning entrepreneurial ideas in Abuja, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, and Rivers States with the star winners receiving N1 million each.
“We understand the role young people play in the community and the nation, and we are committed to supporting their aspirations. The youths represent the future and hope of Nigeria. We will do all we can to support their innovative ideas,” said Njideka Esomeju, Group Head of Consumer Banking.
“Access Bank has been in a strategic partnership with NYSC since 2016. The relationship further evolved into the launch of Accessprenuer: The NYSC edition in February 2021. We have completed 13 editions of the Accessprenuer competition, impacting 490 corps members with N195 million seed capital.
“We have a Facebook community where the winners of this edition will interact freely amongst themselves and inspire young entrepreneurs with similar aspirations. The Facebook community has about 5,800 members,” Njide concluded.
The star prize winner in Rivers, Obot, who wants to go into the palm oil business, thanked Access Bank for motivating him with seed capital to realize his dream and have a brighter future.
The second runner-up winner in Abuja, Nifemi Ademola, who pitched on tomatoes harvesting and reproduction and won N700,000 thanked the bank for the initiative.
“The seed capital money I won today will really assist to expand my business and also help me to acquire more tools that I need for efficient production in the future,” he added.
Ugah Ebuka, one of the N400,000 winners in Kwara said:
“A very big thank you to Access Bank and I pray that utilizing this cash for what it is actually meant for, my business will not just grow but be heard across the globe.”
The Bank also rewarded other corps members across the country in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th -10th positions with N400,000, N250,000, N150,000, and N100,000 respectively.
